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Principled BSDF In Blender's Cycles Now Supports Dispersion
Blender has added a long-awaited feature to the Principled BSDF shader in its Cycles rendering engine, now supporting dispersion for realistic rendering of diamonds and gemstones. This update eliminates the need for complex glass shaders, making it easier for artists to achieve vibrant rainbow-colored light reflections. Although it uses an RGB method rather than a true spectral approach, the results are still impressive. The feature is currently available in the latest Blender 5.3 builds, allowing users to enhance their 3D rendering capabilities immediately.
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Published 24 Aug 2026, 13:15 UTC1 min read
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Summary
TL;DR
- New dispersion support added to the Principled BSDF shader in Cycles.
- Helps create realistic rendering for diamonds, gemstones, and prisms.
- Dispersion produces rainbow-colored reflections without complex shaders.
- The implementation is RGB-based, providing good results.
- Feature available in Blender 5.3 builds.
Interesting facts
- The update simplifies workflows for creating realistic glass materials.
- Artists have long awaited the inclusion of native dispersion support.
What changed
The Principled BSDF shader in Blender's Cycles now natively supports dispersion, improving realism in rendering glass-like materials.